Groundwater maintains dune landscape

The Badain Jaran desert in western Inner Mongolia in China has a unique landscape that contains 72 lakes, with a total water surface area of 23 km2, and the world's highest stationary sand dunes, which are up to 500 m tall--despite the prevailing dry and windy weather conditions. Here we presen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 2004-11, Vol.432 (7016), p.459-460
Main Authors: Chen, J.S, Li, L, Wang, J.Y, Barry, D.A, Sheng, X.F, Gu, W.Z, Zhao, X, Chen, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aquifers
desert soils
deserts
Dunes
Engineering schools
Groundwater
Lakes
Precipitation
sand dune moisture content
Snow
soil water content
Water resources
wind erosion
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Summary:The Badain Jaran desert in western Inner Mongolia in China has a unique landscape that contains 72 lakes, with a total water surface area of 23 km2, and the world's highest stationary sand dunes, which are up to 500 m tall--despite the prevailing dry and windy weather conditions. Here we present evidence of a major groundwater system that underpins the factors leading to this landscape. Our finding could transform plans for the region's water resources.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/432459a